Spatial characteristics and restructuring model of the agro-cultural heritage site in the context of culture and tourism integration.

Tourism promotes the economic development of agro-cultural heritage sites while causing the problem of spatial alienation, so exploring the spatial alienation problems based on the integration of culture and tourism is of great significance for achieving the sustainable development of tourism in agro-cultural heritage sites. This study took the Yuanyang Hani Terrace agro-cultural heritage site as the research area, constructed the model of the spatial system of the agro-cultural heritage site based on the classical grounded theory, and analyzed the spatial characteristics of the agro-cultural heritage site. The results show that the spatial disorder of the agro-cultural heritage site is caused by the interaction of the imbalance of physical space, the fragmentation of cultural space and the complications of social space. Next, this study constructed the model for the spatial restructuring of the agro-cultural heritage site in the context of culture and tourism integration, with the integration of management systems as a guiding force, the integration of talent systems as a crucial force, the integration of agricultural, cultural and tourism resources as a core force, the integration of the cultural and tourism industries as a driving force, the integration of ecology and culture as a basic force, and the integration of digital scenes as an innovative force. This study expands and deepens the spatial theory of tourist destinations and the knowledge system of cultural heritage tourism, and provides a systematic implementation framework and management tools for the integration of culture and tourism and the high-quality development of agro-cultural heritage sites.

Majie Cataplasm Alleviates Asthma by Regulating Th1/Th2/Treg/Th17 Balance.

INTRODUCTION: T cells play a critical role in inflammatory diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of Majie cataplasm (MJC) on asthma and to propose a possible mechanism involved in this process. METHODS: Airway inflammation, infiltration of inflammatory cells, levels of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, IL-17, and interferon (IFN)-γ, levels of Th2, Treg, Th17, and Th1 cells, and the expressions of IL-4, IL-10, IL-17, IFN-γ, GATA binding protein 3 (GATA-3), Foxp3, RAR-related orphan receptor gamma (RORγt), and T-bet were detected. RESULT: MJC treatment reduced lung airway resistance and inflammatory infiltration in lung tissues. MJC treatment also reduced the numbers of eosinophils and neutrophils in the blood and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). The levels of IL-4 and IL-17 in the blood, BALF, and lungs were suppressed by MJC, and IFN-γ and IL-10 were increased. Furthermore, MJC suppressed the percentage of Th2 and Th17 and increased the percentage of Th1 and Treg in spleen cells. In addition, MJC can inhibit asthma by increasing expressions of IFN-γ, IL-10, T-bet, and Foxp3, as well as decreasing expressions of IL-4, IL-17, GATA-3, and RORγt. CONCLUSION: MJC may improve airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammation by regulating Th1/Th2/Treg/Th17 balance in ovalbumin-induced rats. And MJC may be a new source of anti-asthma drugs.

Risk factors and metabolomics of mild cognitive impairment in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the risk factors, metabolic characteristics, and potential biomarkers of mild cognitive impairment in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM-MCI) and to provide potential evidence for the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: A total of 103 patients with T2DM were recruited from the Endocrinology Department of The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University for inclusion in the study. The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) was utilized to evaluate the cognitive functioning of all patients. Among them, 50 patients were categorized into the T2DM-MCI group (MoCA score < 26 points), while 53 subjects were classified into the T2DM without cognitive impairment (T2DM-NCI) group (MoCA score ≥ 26 points). Serum samples were collected from the subjects, and metabolomics profiling data were generated by Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS). These groups were analyzed to investigate the differences in expression of small molecule metabolites, metabolic pathways, and potential specific biomarkers. Results: Comparison between the T2DM-MCI group and T2DM-NCI group revealed significant differences in years of education, history of insulin application, insulin resistance index, insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), and creatinine levels. Further binary logistic regression analysis of the variables indicated that low educational level and low serum IGFBP-3 were independent risk factor for T2DM-MCI. Metabolomics analysis revealed that differential expression of 10 metabolites between the T2DM-MCI group and T2DM-NCI group (p < 0.05 and FDR<0.05, VIP>1.5). Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment pathway analysis revealed that fatty acid degradation was the most significant pathway. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis shows that lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) 18:0 exhibited greater diagnostic efficiency. Conclusion: This study revealed that a shorter duration of education and lower serum IGFBP-3 levels are independent risk factors for T2DM-MCI. Serum metabolites were found to be altered in both T2DM-MCI and T2DM-NCI groups. T2DM patients with or without MCI can be distinguished by LPC 18:0. Abnormal lipid metabolism plays a significant role in the development of MCI in T2DM patients.

Remarkable flexibility in freestanding single-crystalline antiferroelectric PbZrO3 membranes.

The ultrahigh flexibility and elasticity achieved in freestanding single-crystalline ferroelectric oxide membranes have attracted much attention recently. However, for antiferroelectric oxides, the flexibility limit and fundamental mechanism in their freestanding membranes are still not explored clearly. Here, we successfully fabricate freestanding single-crystalline PbZrO3 membranes by a water-soluble sacrificial layer technique. They exhibit good antiferroelectricity and have a commensurate/incommensurate modulated microstructure. Moreover, they also have good shape recoverability when bending with a small radius of curvature (about 2.4 µm for the thickness of 120 nm), corresponding to a bending strain of 2.5%. They could tolerate a maximum bending strain as large as 3.5%, far beyond their bulk counterpart. Our atomistic simulations reveal that this remarkable flexibility originates from the antiferroelectric-ferroelectric phase transition with the aid of polarization rotation. This study not only suggests the mechanism of antiferroelectric oxides to achieve high flexibility but also paves the way for potential applications in flexible electronics.

Evolution and Antigenic Differentiation of Avian Influenza A(H7N9) Virus, China.

We characterized the evolution and molecular characteristics of avian influenza A(H7N9) viruses isolated in China during 2021-2023. We systematically analyzed the 10-year evolution of the hemagglutinin gene to determine the evolutionary branch. Our results showed recent antigenic drift, providing crucial clues for updating the H7N9 vaccine and disease prevention and control.

Association Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Academic Performance Among Children and Adolescents: A Global Meta-Analysis.

This study was conducted to quantify the association of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the academic performance of children and adolescents. The literature was systematically searched in six electronic databases, and a meta-analysis was conducted. Twenty studies with a total of 1,196,631 children and adolescents from five countries were included. Meta-analysis showed that ACE score was positively associated with poor academic achievement, grade repetition, and special education support. Compared with children and adolescents without any ACE, those with one or more ACE had a significantly higher risk of poor academic achievement (pooled odds ratio [OR]: 1.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.13, 1.85], I2 = 82.6%) and grade repetition (pooled OR: 1.36, 95% CI [1.29, 1.43], I2 = 71.0%). Moreover, all types of ACEs were positively associated with poor academic achievement and grade repetition. In addition, there was a significant dose-response relationship between the ACE score and the risk of poor academic achievement. This study supported that ACE had a significant impact on the academic performance of children and adolescents. Based on these findings, we recommend that early screening of ACEs for children and adolescent is critical and appropriate support and prevention in education should be developed for those with ACEs. Further studies are needed to further explore the long-term effect of ACEs on education and its gender differences.

Integration of single-cell RNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq data to construct and validate a cancer-associated fibroblast-related prognostic signature for patients with ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: To establish a prognostic risk profile for ovarian cancer (OC) patients based on cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and gain a comprehensive understanding of their role in OC progression, prognosis, and therapeutic efficacy. METHODS: Data on OC single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and total RNA-seq were collected from the GEO and TCGA databases. Seurat R program was used to analyze scRNA-seq data and identify CAFs clusters corresponding to CAFs markers. Differential expression analysis was performed on the TCGA dataset to identify prognostic genes. A CAF-associated risk signature was designed using Lasso regression and combined with clinicopathological variables to develop a nomogram. Functional enrichment and the immune landscape were also analyzed. RESULTS: Five CAFs clusters were identified in OC using scRNA-seq data, and 2 were significantly associated with OC prognosis. Seven genes were selected to develop a CAF-based risk signature, primarily associated with 28 pathways. The signature was a key independent predictor of OC prognosis and relevant in predicting the results of immunotherapy interventions. A novel nomogram combining CAF-based risk and disease stage was developed to predict OC prognosis. CONCLUSION: The study highlights the importance of CAFs in OC progression and suggests potential for innovative treatment strategies. A CAF-based risk signature provides a highly accurate prediction of the prognosis of OC patients, and the developed nomogram shows promising results in predicting the OC prognosis.

An exploratory study on the association of multiple metals in serum with preeclampsia.

Background: Individual metal levels are potential risk factors for the development of preeclampsia (PE). However, understanding of relationship between multiple metals and PE remains elusive. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore whether eight metals [zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), and mercury (Hg)] in serum had a certain relationship with PE. Methods: A study was conducted in Dongguan, China. The concentrations of metals in maternal serum were assessed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Data on various factors were collected through a face-to-face interview and hospital electronic medical records. The unconditional logistic regression model, principal component analysis (PCA) and Bayesian Kernel Machine Regression (BKMR) were applied in our study. Results: The logistic regression model revealed that the elevated levels of Cu, Pb, and Hg were associated with an increased risk of PE. According to PCA, principal component 1 (PC1) was predominated by Hg, Pb, Mn, Ni, Cu, and As, and PC1 was associated with an increased risk of PE, while PC2 was predominated by Cd and Zn. The results of BKMR indicated a significant positive cumulative effect of serum metals on PE risk, with Ni and Cu exhibiting a significant positive effect. Moreover, BKMR results also revealed the nonlinear effects of Ni and Cd. Conclusion: The investigation suggests a potential positive cumulative impact of serum metals on the occurrence of PE, with a particular emphasis on Cu as a potential risk factor for the onset and exacerbation of PE. These findings offer valuable insights for guiding future studies on this concern.

Ectoine protects corneal epithelial survival and barrier from hyperosmotic stress by promoting anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-37.

PURPOSE: To explore novel role and molecular mechanism of a natural osmoprotectant ectoine in protecting corneal epithelial cell survival and barrier from hyperosmotic stress. METHODS: Primary human corneal epithelial cells (HCECs) were established from donor limbus. The confluent cultures in isosmolar medium were switched to hyperosmotic media (400-500 mOsM), with or without ectoine or rhIL-37 for different time periods. Cell viability and proliferation were evaluated by MTT or WST assay. The integrity of barrier proteins and the expression of cytokines and cathepsin S were evaluated by RT-qPCR, ELISA, and immunostaining with confocal microscopy. RESULTS: HCECs survived well in 450mOsM but partially damaged in 500mOsM medium. Ectoine well protected HCEC survival and proliferation at 500mOsM. The integrity of epithelial barrier was significantly disrupted in HCECs exposed to 450mOsM, as shown by 2D and 3D confocal immunofluorescent images of tight junction proteins ZO-1 and occludin. Ectoine at 5-20 mM well protected these barrier proteins under hyperosmotic stress. The expression of TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6 and IL-8 were dramatically stimulated by hyperosmolarity but significantly suppressed by Ectoine at 5-40 mM. Cathepsin S, which was stimulated by hyperosmolarity, directly disrupted epithelial barrier. Interestingly, anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-37 was suppressed by hyperosmolarity, but restored by ectoine at mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, rhIL-37 suppressed cathepsin S and rescued cell survival and barrier in HCECs exposed to hyperosmolarity. CONCLUSION: Our findings demonstrate that ectoine protects HCEC survival and barrier from hyperosmotic stress by promoting IL-37. This provides new insight into pathogenesis and therapeutic potential for dry eye disease.

Study on activation of fluorogypsum by sodium sulfate and sodium nitrite.

Given the issues related to poor hydration activity, long setting time and low early strength of industrial by-product fluorogypsum (FG), the composite modifiers (Na2SO4 and NaNO2) were utilized to enhance its reactivity. The investigation of the mechanism involved the utilization of contemporary analytical methods, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), 1H low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and Scanning electron microscope and Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (SEM-EDS). The results demonstrated that the incorporation of modifiers significantly enhanced both the hydration rate and activity of fluorogypsum. The optimum concentration of the composite modifier was found to be 1.5 wt% Na2SO4 and 0.5 wt% NaNO2. The addition of modifiers (1.5 wt% Na2SO4 and 0.5 wt% NaNO2) significantly shortens the setting time of FG paste, reducing it by approximately 500 min compared to the control sample. After 28 days of curing, the flexural strength and compressive strength of the fluorogypsum sample containing modifiers (1.5 wt% Na2SO4 and 0.5 wt% NaNO2) increased by 55.5 % (reaching 4.2 MPa) and 31.5 % (reaching 37.6 MPa), respectively. The modifiers facilitate the transformation from anhydrite (CaSO4, AH) to dihydrate gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O, DH). Both NaNO2 and Na2SO4 alter the growth rates of different crystal axes during DH crystal growth, transforming them into prismatic and needle-shaped DH. The prismatic and needle-shaped DH crystals were arranged in layers, resulting in a compact structure with low hole content and few pores, which led to increased density of the hardened paste and higher strength. The current study provides evidence that the inclusion of composite modifiers greatly improves the activity of FG, making it more efficient in the field of building materials.

Berberine alleviates concanavalin A-induced autoimmune hepatitis in mice by modulating the gut microbiota.

BACKGROUND: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an immune-mediated liver disease of unknown etiology accompanied by intestinal dysbiosis and a damaged intestinal barrier. Berberine (BBR) is a traditional antibacterial medicine that has a variety of pharmacological properties. It has been reported that BBR alleviates AIH, but relevant mechanisms remain to be fully explored. METHODS: BBR was orally administered at doses of 100 mg⋅kg-1⋅d-1 for 7 days to mice before concanavalin A-induced AIH model establishment. Histopathological, immunohistochemical, immunofluorescence, western blotting, ELISA, 16S rRNA analysis, flow cytometry, real-time quantitative PCR, and fecal microbiota transplantation studies were performed to ascertain BBR effects and mechanisms in AIH mice. RESULTS: We found that liver necrosis and apoptosis were decreased upon BBR administration; the levels of serum transaminase, serum lipopolysaccharide, liver proinflammatory factors TNF-α, interferon-γ, IL-1ß, and IL-17A, and the proportion of Th17 cells in spleen cells were all reduced, while the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 and regulatory T cell proportions were increased. Moreover, BBR treatment increased beneficial and reduced harmful bacteria in the gut. BBR also strengthened ileal barrier function by increasing the expression of the tight junction proteins zonula occludens-1 and occludin, thereby blocking lipopolysaccharide translocation, preventing lipopolysaccharide/toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/ NF-κB pathway activation, and inhibiting inflammatory factor production in the liver. Fecal microbiota transplantation from BBR to model mice also showed that BBR potentially alleviated AIH by altering the gut microbiota. CONCLUSIONS: BBR alleviated concanavalin A-induced AIH by modulating the gut microbiota and related immune regulation. These results shed more light on potential BBR therapeutic strategies for AIH.

The effect of triclosan on intergeneric horizontal transmission of plasmid-mediated tigecycline resistance gene tet(X4) from Citrobacter freundii isolated from grass carp gut.

The transmission of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in pathogenic bacteria affects culture animal health, endangers food safety, and thus gravely threatens public health. However, information about the effect of disinfectants - triclosan (TCS) on ARGs dissemination of bacterial pathogens in aquatic animals is still limited. One Citrobacter freundii (C. freundii) strain harboring tet(X4)-resistant plasmid was isolated from farmed grass carp guts, and subsequently conjugative transfer frequency from C. freundii to Escherichia coli C600 (E. coli C600) was analyzed under different mating time, temperature, and ratio. The effect of different concentrations of TCS (0.02, 0.2, 2, 20, 200 and 2000 µg/L) on the conjugative transfer was detected. The optimum conditions for conjugative transfer were at 37 °C for 8h with mating ratio of 2:1 or 1:1 (C. freundii: E. coli C600). The conjugative transfer frequency was significantly promoted under TCS treatment and reached the maximum value under 2.00 µg/L TCS with 18.39 times that of the control group. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities, cell membrane permeability of C. freundii and E. coli C600 were obviously increased under TCS stress. Scanning electron microscope showed that the cell membrane surface of the conjugative strains was wrinkled and pitted, even broken at 2.00 µg/L TCS, while lysed or even ruptured at 200.00 µg/L TCS. In addition, TCS up-regulated expression levels of oxidative stress genes (katE, hemF, bcp, hemA, katG, ahpF, and ahpC) and cell membrane-related genes (fimC, bamE and ompA) of donor and recipient bacteria. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment demonstrated significant changes in categories relevant to pilus, porin activity, transmembrane transporter activity, transferase activity, hydrolase activity, material transport and metabolism. Taken together, a tet(X4)-resistant plasmid could horizontal transmission among different pathogens, while TCS can promote the propagation of the resistant plasmid.

Corrigendum to "The influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on identifying HIV/AIDS cases in China: an interrupted time series study" [The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific 36 (2023) 100755].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.lanwpc.2023.100755.].

Production of anhydrous hydrogen fluoride from fluorosilicic acid: a review.

Anhydrous hydrogen fluoride (AHF), a critical raw material for industries such as aluminum, pharmaceuticals, and petroleum, has traditionally been sourced from fluorite-a non-renewable mineral. The unsustainable reliance on fluorite has catalyzed the search for alternative AHF production methods. A promising substitute is fluorosilicic acid (FSA), a byproduct of the phosphate fertilizer industry previously deemed waste. Transforming fluorosilicic acid into AHF not only yields a valuable resource but also addresses the environmental and economic challenges associated with waste management. The innovative practice of producing AHF from fluorosilicic acid signals a shift towards sustainable chemical production by capitalizing on waste, potentially diminishing reliance on fluorite and reducing the industry's environmental impact. This review thoroughly dissects the AHF synthesis process from fluorosilicic acid. Despite the acknowledged importance of fluorinated compounds in numerous industrial applications, research on their synthesis from fluorosilicic acid is limited and fragmented. This review seeks to amalgamate this scattered information by closely scrutinizing diverse industrial processing methods. Additionally, it explores the current and future landscape, economic feasibility, and strategies to navigate the obstacles inherent in synthesizing AHF from fluorosilicic acid. It also assesses the environmental impact of these methods, thereby contributing to the dialogue in this emerging field. The primary aim of this manuscript is to foster further research and promote the industrial uptake of this sustainable process. Highlighting the challenges and proposing potential improvements, the review supports the responsible reuse of waste and advocates for advancements in industrial practices.

Controlled construction of 2D hierarchical core-shell ZnO/MnO2 nanosheets on Nitinol fiber with enhanced adsorption performance for selective solid-phase microextraction of trace polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water samples.

BACKGROUND: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are an important class of potentially toxic persistent organic pollutants in environmental water. Their concentrations are usually too low to allow for direct determination with analytical instruments, and the preconcentration is required prior to instrumental analysis. Solid phase microextraction (SPME) is considered as a high-performance green sample preparation technique for volatile and non-volatile organic compounds due to its high enrichment factor. In fact, the nature of SPME coatings governs the adsorption performance. Therefore, more efforts have devoted to the controlled construction of novel long-life SPME fibers with enhanced adsorption performance and improved adsorption selectivity. RESULTS: 2D hierarchical core-shell ZnO/MnO2 nanosheets (NSs) were constructed on a Nitinol (NiTi) fiber substrate by layer-by-layer assembly for enhanced and selective SPME of PAHs. Firstly, hexagonal ZnO NSs were electrodeposited on the NiTi substrate. Subsequently smaller secondary MnO2 NSs were uniformly grown on the surface of ZnO NSs by a facile hydrothermal oxidation process. ZnO NSs were well protected by the chemically stable MnO2 shell, making the coating highly durable and efficient for SPME application. Meanwhile, the ZnO/MnO2 NSs coating demonstrated superior adsorption performance for PAHs. After the optimization of SPME conditions, the proposed SPME-HPLC-UV method exhibited good analytical performance for preconcentrating and determining trace PAHs with wide linear ranges (0.03-200 µg L-1) and low LODs (0.005-0.112 µg L-1) as well as good repeatability (1.4%-6.9%) and fiber-to-fiber reproducibility (5.3%-7.1%). Moreover, the proposed method showed good precision and recovery in the preconcentration and determination of target PAHs in real water samples. SIGNIFICANCE: As compared with representative commercially available fibers, the NiTi@ZnO/MnO2 NSs fiber showed enhanced adsorption efficiency and improved adsorption selectivity for PAHs. The constructed fiber can be used as an alternative to commercial fibers for the adsorption and preconcentration of target PAHs in the environmental water samples. Moreover, the preparation strategy is expected to provide new insights into the precisely controlled construction of the efficient and stable core-shell bimetallic oxide nanostructures on the superielastic NiTi-based fibers.

Tailless Information-Energy Metasurface.

Programmable metasurface technology can achieve flexible manipulations of electromagnetic waves in real time by adjusting the surface structure and material properties and has shown extraordinary potential in many fields such as wireless communications and the Internet of Things. However, most of the programmable metasurfaces have a common feature: a tail (electrical wires and DC powers), which is difficult to supply in some particular application scenarios such as canyons and mountains. To eliminate the limitation of DC power supply, the programmable metasurface and wireless power transfer technology are combined to propose a tailless information-energy metasurface (IEMS). The tailless IEMS platform can dynamically control electromagnetic waves without relying on an external DC power supply; instead, the required DC power is provided internally by the IEMS platform itself. In the tailless IEMS experiments, the concept is demonstrated through the dynamic regulation of wireless channels and the wireless transmission of DC power. This work provides a self-powered method for programmable metasurfaces, expands the application scenarios, facilitates the miniaturization of systems, and makes it easy to integrate with other systems.

Greatly Improved the Tunable Amplitude of Ferromagnetism Based on Interface Effect of Flexible Pt/YIG Heterojunctions.

Flexible quantum spin electronic devices based on ferromagnetic insulators have attracted wide attention due to their outstanding advantages of low-power dissipation and noncontact sensing. However, ferromagnetic insulators, such as monocrystalline yttrium iron garnet (Y3Fe5O12, YIG), hve weak stress effects with a small magnetostrictive coefficient (λ110, 10 ppm), making it difficult to achieve a large magnetic tunable amplitude. In this paper, large-scale (with a diameter of 40 mm), flexible Pt/YIG heterojunctions were obtained by double-cavity magnetron sputtering technology, indicating typical soft magnetism and good bending fatigue characteristics. Here, the 3 nm thickness of the Pt layer triggers an obvious magnetic proximity effect, in which the in-plane ferromagnetic resonance field is decreased by 70 Oe compared to flexible Cu/YIG heterojunctions. Meanwhile, it shows a wide tunable amplitude of 110 Oe under the flexible bending stresses, which is induced by the sensitive interface effect of Pt (3 nm)/YIG heterojunctions. The saturation magnetization of Pt/YIG heterojunctions is negatively correlated with Pt thickness rather than the relative stability of Cu/YIG heterojunctions, depending on the magnetic proximity effect. It brings greater application possibilities for flexible stress-sensitive magnetic oxides in spin logic electronic devices.

A novel top-down strategy for in situ construction of vertically oriented hexagonal NiCr LDHs nanosheet arrays with intercalated sulfate ions on Nichrome fiber for selective solid-phase microextraction of phenolic compounds in water samples.

BACKGROUND: Phenolic compounds (PCs) are a class of polar aromatic pollutants with high toxicity in environmental water. Generally the efficient sample preparation is essential for the quantification of ultra-trace target PCs in real water sample before appropriative instrumental analysis. SPME is a convenient, solvent-free and time-saving miniaturized technique and has been recognized as a green alternative to conventional extraction techniques. In SPME, however, commercial fused-silica fibers are limited to the fragility, operation temperature, extraction capacity and selectivity as well as lifetime. Therefore, the development of new SPME fibers is always needed to overcome such limitations. RESULTS: We presented a novel top-down strategy for in situ construction of vertically oriented hexagonal sulfate intercalated NiCr layered double hydroxide nanosheet arrays (NiCr LDHs-SO4 NSAs) on the Nichrome (NiCr) substrate by hydrothermal treatment in NaOH solution containing (NH4)2S2O8. The results showed that much shorter hydrothermal time was needed for the construction of NiCr@NiCr LDHs-SO4 NSAs fiber in the presence of (NH4)2S2O8. Moreover, the unique NiCr LDHs-SO4 NSAs coating offered open access structure, and thereby more available surface area for adsorption. The resulting fiber exhibited better extraction efficiency for phenolic compounds (PCs), faster mass transfer rate, higher mechanical stability, and longer service life than original NiCr@NiCr LDHs NSs fiber and typical commercially fused-silica fibers. After optimizing conditions, the SPME-HPLC-UV method demonstrated a linear range from 0.05 µg L-1 to 200 µg L-1 with LODs of 0.015-0.156 µg L-1 (S/N = 3) and LOQs of 0.048-0.498 µg L-1 (S/N = 10), as well as good repeatability (3.06%-5.22%) and fiber-to-fiber reproducibility (4.32%-6.49%). SIGNIFICANCE: The developed SPME-HPLC-UV method with the constructed fiber was applied to the preconcentration and detection of different types of PCs in real water samples, showing satisfactory recoveries ranging from 86.20% to 107.8% with RSDs of 3.18%-6.69%. This study provides a new strategy for in situ construction of bimetallic hydroxides and their derived nanocomposite coatings on the NiCr fiber substrate in practical SPME application.

Ectoine, from a Natural Bacteria Protectant to a New Treatment of Dry Eye Disease.

Ectoine, a novel natural osmoprotectant, protects bacteria living in extreme environments. This study aimed to explore the therapeutic effect of ectoine for dry eye disease. An experimental dry eye model was created in C57BL/6 mice exposed to desiccating stress (DS) with untreated mice as controls (UT). DS mice were dosed topically with 0.5-2.0% of ectoine or a vehicle control. Corneal epithelial defects were detected via corneal smoothness and Oregon Green dextran (OGD) fluorescent staining. Pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines were evaluated using RT-qPCR and immunofluorescent staining. Compared with UT mice, corneal epithelial defects were observed as corneal smoothness irregularities and strong punctate OGD fluorescent staining in DS mice with vehicle. Ectoine treatment protected DS mice from corneal damage in a concentration-dependent manner, and ectoine at 1.0 and 2.0% significantly restored the corneal smoothness and reduced OGD staining to near normal levels. Expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1ß, and IL-6) and chemokines CCL3 and CXCL11 was significantly elevated in the corneas and conjunctivas of DS mice, whereas 1.0 and 2.0% ectoine suppressed these inflammatory mediators to near normal levels. Our findings demonstrate that ectoine can significantly reduce the hallmark pathologies associated with dry eye and may be a promising candidate for treating human disease.

MEDAG expression in vitro and paeoniflorin alleviates bone loss by regulating the MEDAG/AMPK/PPARγ signaling pathway in vivo.

Objectives: Osteoporosis (OP) is characterized by reduced bone mass and impaired bone microstructure. Paeoniflorin (PF) is isolated from peony root with anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and bone-protective effects. Up to now, the mechanism of anti-OP in PF has not been completely clarified. Methods: The expression of MEDAG in osteoclasts, osteoblasts and adipocytes was detected by RT-qPCR. The OVX mouse model was constructed, and oral administration of PF was performed for 15 weeks. Bone microstructure was detected by H&E staining and a micro-CT system, and expression of signaling proteins examined by Western blot and immunohistochemical staining. ELISA and biochemical kits were used to quantify serum metabolite levels. Key findings: MEDAG were upregulated in osteoclasts and adipocytes, and downregulated in osteoblasts. PF administration effectively alleviated OVX-induced bone loss, and histological changes in femur tissues. Moreover, PF significantly reduced serum TRAP, CTX-1, P1NP, BALP, and LDL-C levels and increased HDL-C. In addition, PF inhibited the expression of MEDAG, cathepsin K, NFATc1, PPARγ, and C/EBPα and increased p-AMPKα, OPG and Runx2. Conclusions: MEDAG is a potential target for bone diseases, and PF might attenuate OVX-induced osteoporosis via MEDAG/AMPK/PPARγ signaling pathway.